Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Sun Jun 10, 2012 12:44 pm  

shambawangy wrote:

Thing is, why would Widdop want to move from living in Melbourne, to the North of England?

To be fair isn't Melbourne as wet and cold as Northern England and they get massive dust storms once in a blue moon

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Sun Jun 10, 2012 12:50 pm  

Baked Bean Boogie wrote:

To be fair isn't Melbourne as wet and cold as Northern England and they get massive dust storms once in a blue moon

You certainly can get 4 seasons in a day. Ive been therefore at Chjristmas and had hail the size of golf balls. 2 days later is was 90 in the shade !

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Sun Jun 10, 2012 1:09 pm  

I don't know what the obsession is with mentioning NRL players who we'll never sign. If we sign Soward, which will be amazing, it'll be the biggest overseas 'name' we've had since Barrett.

With this NRL imports can be temperamental, yes in the past we've had some excellent signings who've stayed with is long term, but we've had many who leave before the end of their agreed contract, let alone look to re-new and stay.

I feel strengthening via our youth development and looking throughout the UK will deliver structure and stability within our team, hence why I feel Matty Smith (is/will be) an excellent signing.

Targets should be more along the lines of:
Briscoe (No disrespect to FC but he has more chance of winning trophies at Wigan)
Burgess (At Bradford)
Eastmond (Love to see him back in SL)


Image a future team of:

Tomkins
Charnley Goulding Thornley/Gelling Briscoe
Smith Eastmond
Mossop McM Dudson
Hock Hansen
Lockers
--------------------
With an excellent list to chose from of:
Farrell
Hughes
Tomkins
Flower
Tuson
Prescott
Spencer
Cosby
etc

All the players mentioned (bar Gelling) are British based (Including HH).

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Sun Jun 10, 2012 1:20 pm  

I'd certainly agree with with the above. That signing good young British players is the way to go. The likes of Clark at Cas, Sarginson at London and Scott Taylor at Hull KR. It may take a large trasfer fee in some cases, but they are most certainly players I'd like to see in a Wigan shirt.

I noticed Sarginson was playing 6 for London yesterday. After a short stint in the centre's. I wouldn't mind seeing him at 6 for Wigan.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Sun Jun 10, 2012 1:27 pm  

LovesToSpooge wrote:

I'd certainly agree with with the above. That signing good young British players is the way to go. The likes of Clark at Cas, Sarginson at London and Scott Taylor at Hull KR. It may take a large trasfer fee in some cases, but they are most certainly players I'd like to see in a Wigan shirt.

I noticed Sarginson was playing 6 for London yesterday. After a short stint in the centre's. I wouldn't mind seeing him at 6 for Wigan.

Trouble then is, bitter fans will be saying "Wigan sign all the young talent", instead of "Wigan sign all the aussies"....

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Sun Jun 10, 2012 1:35 pm  

LovesToSpooge wrote:

I'd certainly agree with with the above. That signing good young British players is the way to go. The likes of Clark at Cas, Sarginson at London and Scott Taylor at Hull KR. It may take a large trasfer fee in some cases, but they are most certainly players I'd like to see in a Wigan shirt.

I noticed Sarginson was playing 6 for London yesterday. After a short stint in the centre's. I wouldn't mind seeing him at 6 for Wigan.

I rate Sarginson but the obvious problem with wanting some of these players is the quality of young players Wigan already have. Sarginson promises to be a top quality half, but so do Hampshire and Williams. Wigan could spend a huge amount of money signing a player like Sarginson only to produce two players just as good in a couple of years time and realise the money spent was unnecessary.

I'm sure if Richards suddenly announced he was leaving Wigan people would expect Lenegan to throw money at Hull to sign Tom Briscoe, then two years later Joe Burgess bursts onto the scene and again the money spent becomes unnecessary.

I imagine having a few good, young halfbacks is what makes replacing Finch and Leuluai that little bit harder. Hampshire and Williams could be top quality, so as much as people want Lenegan to throw money at players currently under contract like Brough there's every chance that Wigan won't get much benefit from that investment; either through losing a promising young player or because the player signed is surpassed in ability.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Sun Jun 10, 2012 1:49 pm  

Cherry.Pie wrote:

I rate Sarginson but the obvious problem with wanting some of these players is the quality of young players Wigan already have. Sarginson promises to be a top quality half, but so do Hampshire and Williams. Wigan could spend a huge amount of money signing a player like Sarginson only to produce two players just as good in a couple of years time and realise the money spent was unnecessary.

I'm sure if Richards suddenly announced he was leaving Wigan people would expect Lenegan to throw money at Hull to sign Tom Briscoe, then two years later Joe Burgess bursts onto the scene and again the money spent becomes unnecessary.

I imagine having a few good, young halfbacks is what makes replacing Finch and Leuluai that little bit harder. Hampshire and Williams could be top quality, so as much as people want Lenegan to throw money at players currently under contract like Brough there's every chance that Wigan won't get much benefit from that investment; either through losing a promising young player or because the player signed is surpassed in ability.

Williams and Hampshire are a good few years of being ready for first team action yet though. Whilst in the mean time we need to sign players in these position's. We can't hang on waiting for these two to mature because whilst promising at present they still might not make the grade. We could sign Sarginson and begin him at stand-off and then when Hampshire and Williams are ready, we could move Sarginson to centre of even lock. I'd rather be embarrassed by riches than not.

I do agree we have to be mindful of who we sign when taking into consideration who is coming through our academy.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Sun Jun 10, 2012 1:59 pm  

LovesToSpooge wrote:

Williams and Hampshire are a good few years of being ready for first team action yet though. Whilst in the mean time we need to sign players in these position's. We can't hang on waiting for these two to mature because whilst promising at present they still might not make the grade. We could sign Sarginson and begin him at stand-off and then when Hampshire and Williams are ready, we could move Sarginson to centre of even lock. I'd rather be embarrassed by riches than not.

I do agree we have to be mindful of who we sign when taking into consideration who is coming through our academy.

I'm not saying that the club just sit and wait for young players to become good enough, I mean they have to be careful when it comes to spending money to sign players who are still contracted.

If it's a case of spending £400k to sign Danny Brough or signing Matty Smith for no fee I imagine most teams would go for the latter.

The club can only really pay a big fee for one player so they have to make sure it's a player who will give the best return for the longest period of time. So a big money move for an NRL player on contract would be unlikely even if you don't take into account the NRL salary cap advantage.

Out of Clark, Sarginson and Taylor it would be interesting to see which one people would choose to pay big money for (assuming Taylor is contracted). We have quite a few good young forwards so that would probably rule Taylor out. We need two new halfbacks which might suggest Sarginson but we also have Powell, Hampshire & Williams waiting in the wings. We have an excellent hooker in McIlorum but none of the younger hookers really look like potential top quality players which might tip the balance in favour of Clark, but both Clark and Sarginson would be good additions and would bring their own advantages and disadvantages.

As much as people expect the club to throw money at the best players it's just not how a successful club should be run, which is why replacing Finch & Leuluai is going to be such a big issue for Wigan but one that the club can't just throw money at. A long term solution is almost always better than a short term one.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Sun Jun 10, 2012 2:49 pm  

I would try and sign brough on a 3 year deal, following that willams and hampshire would be ready for first team action.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Sun Jun 10, 2012 3:12 pm  

Cherry.Pie wrote:

I'm not saying that the club just sit and wait for young players to become good enough, I mean they have to be careful when it comes to spending money to sign players who are still contracted.

If it's a case of spending £400k to sign Danny Brough or signing Matty Smith for no fee I imagine most teams would go for the latter.

The club can only really pay a big fee for one player so they have to make sure it's a player who will give the best return for the longest period of time. So a big money move for an NRL player on contract would be unlikely even if you don't take into account the NRL salary cap advantage.

Out of Clark, Sarginson and Taylor it would be interesting to see which one people would choose to pay big money for (assuming Taylor is contracted). We have quite a few good young forwards so that would probably rule Taylor out. We need two new halfbacks which might suggest Sarginson but we also have Powell, Hampshire & Williams waiting in the wings. We have an excellent hooker in McIlorum but none of the younger hookers really look like potential top quality players which might tip the balance in favour of Clark, but both Clark and Sarginson would be good additions and would bring their own advantages and disadvantages.

As much as people expect the club to throw money at the best players it's just not how a successful club should be run, which is why replacing Finch & Leuluai is going to be such a big issue for Wigan but one that the club can't just throw money at. A long term solution is almost always better than a short term one.

That's why I favor signing the likes of Clark and Sarginson. They are long term solutions. Who warrant being feverishly chased.

Listening to Wane speak on BBC Manchester today after the Catalans result. When asked about replacing Finch he said the club would look very much to replace from within, and that fans shouldn't worry about who plays in the halves for us next year as they'll be good. He certainly allayed my fears.

We've been quite unlucky in the halfback department recently. Mellor was tearing up tree's before his terrible injury, and unfortunately hasn't looked the same again since. Powell who may well have had a look in by now also suffered a nasty injury. Lenegan and Wane must be pained that they haven't had a chance to look at Powell much this year.